JPH0986785A - Mounted paper sheet delivery device detection method for recording device, recording device and paper sheet delivery device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain easiness for saving power, obtaining a compact size and reducing cost without any special electrical part and circuit, regarding a mounted paper sheet delivery device detection method for a recording device having a detachable a paper sheet delivery device, the recording device and the paper sheet delivery device detachably mounted on the recording device. SOLUTION: A tray shift motor rotation control signal CR is sent from a central printer control circuit 4 to a tray shift motor drive circuit 12 for a three-bin tray 10. The tray shift motor drive circuit 12 drives a tray shift motor 16, upon receipt of a tray shift motor drive signal D2. As a result, when a shift tray unit is displaced, a tray position detection signal TP from a tray position sensor 20 is inputted to the central printer control circuit 4. Thereafter, judgement is made about whether the tray position detection signal TP is inputted to the central printer control circuit 4 within the prescribed time from the output of the tray shift motor rotation control signal CR, thereby detecting whether the three-bin tray 10 is mounted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for detecting the mounting of a paper discharge device of a recording device, a recording device and a paper discharge device, and more particularly to the discharge of a recording device in which a paper discharge device such as a sorter or a multi-tray device is detachably mounted. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper device mounting detection method, a recording device, and a paper discharge device that is detachable from the recording device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, there has been known a sheet discharging device such as a sorter or a multi-tray device which is detachably attached as an option for a facsimile or a copying machine including a recording device such as a printer inside the device. The determination as to whether these paper discharge devices are attached to or detached from a facsimile or a copying machine has been made by transmitting a signal from the paper discharge device to the facsimile or the copying machine.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a structure in which a paper discharge device is mounted on a conventional recording device. In FIG. 8, the printer 81
Is built in, for example, a facsimile or a copying machine, and is connected via a cable 82 to a 3-bin tray 83, which is a type of paper discharge device. Both ends of the cable 82 have terminals 8
Via interfaces 4 and 85, they are connected to an interface formed of a resistor R in the printer 81 and an interface (not shown) in the 3-bin tray 83, respectively.

The 3-bin tray 83 has a mounting detection circuit 8 inside.
When the 3-bin tray 83 is mounted on the printer 81, the mounting detection circuit 86 generates a mounting detection signal S and sends it to the printer 81 via the cable 82.

The printer 81 has a printer central control circuit 87 inside. The printer central control circuit 87 controls the operation of the printer 81, and when the mounting detection signal S from the 3-bin tray 83 received by the interface (resistor R) is input through the input port 88, the 3-bin tray 83.
Recognize that is installed.

[0006]

However, in the configuration including the printer 81 and the 3-bin tray 83 as described above, the mounting detection circuit 86 for generating the mounting detection signal S is generated.
And terminals 84 and 85 for transmitting the mounting detection signal S to the printer central control circuit 87, the cable 82, the interface resistor R, and the printer central control circuit 8.
It was necessary to specially provide an input port 88 and the like for inputting the attachment detection signal S to the device 7 for recognition. Therefore, there is a problem in that the cost of the entire device increases due to these circuits and electric parts, and it becomes difficult to downsize the device. There is also a problem that power consumption is increased by these circuits.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a paper discharge device having a circuit structure simpler than that of the prior art and having a plurality of paper discharge ports and paper presence / absence sensors corresponding thereto has been considered. However, this paper discharge device could only be applied to a sorter or a multi-tray device with a single paper discharge port.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to save power and reduce the size without providing a special circuit or electric part for detecting the mounting of the paper discharge device.
A method for detecting the attachment of a recording apparatus, which is configured to detachably attach a sheet ejection apparatus such as a sorter or a multi-tray apparatus, which is easy to reduce the cost, and the recording apparatus and the detachable ejection to the recording apparatus. It is to provide a paper device.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the method of the present invention is a method for detecting the mounting of a paper discharge device in a recording apparatus in which the paper discharge device is detachably mounted, wherein the paper discharge device is mounted. And a mounting determination process for determining mounting of the sheet discharging device based on the determination result of the level determining process. Have.

The method of the present invention, as one form thereof, is a method for detecting the mounting of a paper discharge device in a recording device in which the paper discharge device is detachably attached, and the paper discharge device is caused to perform a predetermined operation. A control signal transmitting process for transmitting a control signal for
A signal input determination step of determining whether an incoming signal is input within a predetermined time when the paper discharge device performs the predetermined operation based on the control signal, and a determination result of the signal input determination step And a mounting determination process for determining mounting of the paper discharge device based on the above.

In another form, the method of the present invention is
A method for detecting the attachment of a paper ejecting device to a recording device in which the paper ejecting device is detachably mounted, wherein the level of a terminal to which a predetermined signal comes from the paper ejecting device when the paper ejecting device is mounted is set. A level determination process for determining, a control signal transmission process for transmitting a control signal for causing the paper discharge device to perform a predetermined operation based on the determination result of the level determination process, and the paper discharge device outputs the control signal to the control signal. Based on the signal input determination process of determining whether the predetermined signal that should come when the predetermined operation is performed is input within a predetermined time based on the result of the signal input determination process or the level determination process. And a mounting determination process for determining mounting of the paper discharge device based on the determination result.

[0012] The method of the present invention, in another form,
In the level determination process, it is determined whether the level of the terminal is a fixed value when the paper discharge device is not attached to the recording device.

In another form, the method of the present invention is
When it is determined in the signal input determination process that the incoming signal is not input within the predetermined time, it is determined that the paper discharge device is not mounted, and discharge control to a built-in discharge port is performed. It further has a paper discharge control process for performing.

In another form of the method of the present invention,
The paper discharge device has a movable member, the drive source of the movable member is drive-controlled by the control signal, and the predetermined signal is generated by detecting a displacement operation of the movable member.

In addition, the method of the present invention, in another form,
The movable member comprises a movable shelf, the predetermined signal, depending on whether the light detection means detects the light from the light source according to the shape of the rotating body that rotates with the drive source, or does not detect, It is generated by changing the logic level within the predetermined time.

To achieve the above object, the apparatus of the present invention comprises a movable member, a displacement means for displacing the movable member in response to a control signal, and a position detection of the movable member by detecting the displacement of the movable member. In a recording device in which a paper discharge device including a position detection unit that outputs a signal is detachably configured, the position detection signal is output from the paper discharge device when the paper discharge device is attached to the recording device. The apparatus includes an incoming terminal, level determining means for determining the level of the terminal, and mounting determination means for determining mounting of the paper discharge device based on the determination result by the level determining means.

As one form of the apparatus of the present invention, the movable member, the displacement means for displacing the movable member in response to a control signal, and the displacement of the movable member are detected to detect the position of the movable member. In a recording device in which a paper discharge device having a position detection means for outputting a signal is detachably configured, control signal sending means for sending the control signal for causing the paper discharge device to perform a predetermined operation, It has a terminal to which the position detection signal that should come when the paper discharge device performs the predetermined operation based on the control signal is input, and whether the position detection signal is input within a predetermined time. A signal input determination means for determining and a mounting determination means for determining mounting of the paper discharge device based on the determination result by the signal input determination means are provided.

In another form, the device of the present invention is
Attaching and detaching a paper discharge device including a movable member, a displacement unit that displaces the movable member according to a control signal, and a position detection unit that detects a displacement of the movable member and outputs a position detection signal of the movable member. In a freely configured recording apparatus, a level determination unit that has a terminal to which the position detection signal comes from the paper discharge device when the paper discharge device is mounted, and a level judgment means for judging the level of the terminal, Control signal sending means for sending the control signal for causing the paper discharge device to perform a predetermined operation based on the determination result by the level determination means, and the paper discharge device performing the predetermined operation based on the control signal And a signal input judging means for judging whether the position detecting signal is inputted within a predetermined time, and having the terminal to which the position detecting signal which should come in is inputted. Judgment result or Based on the determination result by the serial level determination means, characterized by comprising a mounting determining means for determining mounting of the sheet discharging device.

In another form, the device of the present invention is
The level determining means determines whether the level of the terminal is a fixed value when the paper discharge device is not mounted.

In another form, the device of the present invention is
When it is determined by the signal input determination means that the incoming position detection signal is not input within the predetermined time, it is determined that the sheet discharge device is not mounted, and the sheet is discharged to the built-in sheet discharge port. It is characterized by further comprising a paper discharge control means for performing paper control.

The apparatus of the present invention, in another form,
The logical level of the position detection signal changes within the predetermined time according to the position of the movable member of the paper discharge device 2
It is a value signal.

In order to achieve the above object, the apparatus of the present invention is detachably attached to a recording apparatus having recording means for recording an image on recording paper and control means for controlling the operation of the apparatus based on a signal from the outside. In a paper discharge device having a movable member, a displacement means for displacing the movable member according to a control signal from the outside, and a position corresponding to the position of the movable member by detecting the displacement of the movable member. A position detection unit that outputs a detection signal, and when the recording device is mounted on the recording apparatus, the position detection signal is sent to the control unit within a predetermined time after the control signal is supplied. Become.

Further, in one aspect of the apparatus of the present invention, the movable member is a movable shelf to which the recording sheet sent from the recording apparatus is discharged.

The apparatus of the present invention, in another form,
The position detecting means temporarily shields the light from the light source by a part of the rotating body in response to the rotation of the rotating body which is interlocked with the drive source of the displacing means. It has a light detection means for generating the position detection signal whose level changes.

Further, the apparatus of the present invention has another form,
The rotating body is composed of a disk-shaped member having portions with different radii, a portion with a large radius shields the light from the light source with respect to the light detection means, and a portion with a small radius shields the light from the light source. It is shaped so as to be incident on the light detecting means.

According to the present invention, the paper discharge device having the movable member is caused to perform a predetermined operation based on the control signal sent from the recording device, and the displacement operation of the movable member is detected by the position detecting means. The power position detection signal is determined whether or not the control device of the recording apparatus is input within a predetermined time after the control signal is transmitted, and it is determined whether or not the recording apparatus is attached based on the determination result. If the paper discharge device has a movable member and its position detection means, it is possible to detect the mounting of the paper discharge device without newly adding a special circuit or electric part.

Further, in the present invention, since the binary signal whose logical level changes according to the position of the movable member is applied as the position detection signal from the position detection means which should come into the control means, the recording device outputs It is possible to reliably determine, based on the position detection signal, whether or not the paper discharge device has performed the predetermined operation based on the sent control signal.

Further, in the present invention, when it is determined that the signal which should come to the control means is not input within the predetermined time,
Since it determines that the paper ejection device is not installed and controls the paper ejection to the paper ejection port built into the recording device, the recording paper is loaded even if the paper ejection device is not installed. It is possible to prevent an erroneous operation in which the paper is discharged in the direction of the set and a wasteful operation.

[0029]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a block configuration of a first embodiment of a recording apparatus and a paper discharge apparatus to which the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the facsimile 1
Is a central control circuit 2 and a printer 3, which is a recording device,
Further, it has an image reading unit, a transmission unit, a reception unit, and the like, which are not shown. The central control circuit 2 controls the operation of the entire facsimile 1. A 3-bin tray 10, which is an optional paper discharge device, is detachably attached to the printer 3 of the facsimile 1.

The printer 3 has a printer central control circuit 4, a recording sheet conveying section 5 and a recording section 6. The recording unit 6 corresponds to the recording means described above. The printer central control circuit 4 is supplied with the synchronous clock CLK from the central control circuit 2, and communicates with the central control circuit 2 by a transmission signal TR and a reception signal RX. Further, the printer central control circuit 4 also communicates with the 3-bin tray 10 to control the discharge of paper from the printer 3 to the 3-bin tray 10 and the 3-bin tray 10 to the facsimile 1 (printer 3).
It is determined whether it is attached to. The printer central control circuit 4 corresponds to the above-mentioned level determination means, mounting determination means, control signal transmission means, signal input determination means, paper discharge control means, and control means.

When the 3-bin tray 10 is attached to the printer 3, the conveyance motor drive circuit 1 in the 3-bin tray 10 is installed.
1, the tray shift motor drive circuit 12, and the solenoid drive circuits 13 and 14 are supplied with control signals at predetermined timings from the printer central control circuit 4. Based on these control signals, each drive circuit 11, 12, 13, 1
Reference numeral 4 generates a transport motor drive signal D1, a tray shift motor drive signal D2, each solenoid drive signal D3, D4. The transport motor drive signal D1 is sent to the transport motor 15, and the tray shift motor drive signal D2 is sent to the tray shift motor 16.
The solenoid drive signal D3 is supplied to the flapper switching solenoid 17, and the solenoid drive signal D4 is supplied to the flapper switching solenoid 18.

Further, the tray position sensor 20 in the 3-bin tray 10, each discharge sensor 21, 22, each overload sensor 2
Predetermined detection signals are sent from the open / close sensor 3, 24 to the printer central control circuit 4 in accordance with the operation of the 3-bin tray 10. Each of the above motors 15, 16,
The operation of each solenoid 17, 18 and each sensor 20-25 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the mechanical structure of the first embodiment of the recording apparatus and the sheet discharging apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 2, the printer 3 incorporated in the facsimile machine (1) is shown only in the vicinity of its discharge port, but the 3-bin tray 10 is detachably arranged on the upper part thereof. The printer 3 includes a tray 26 for ejecting recorded sheet-shaped recording paper (hereinafter, referred to as recorded paper).
have. A drive signal D3 from the solenoid drive circuit 13 according to a control signal from the printer central control circuit 4 determines whether the recorded paper is discharged to the tray 26 or sent to the mounted 3-bin tray 10, (see FIG. 1). By 3
Selection is made by turning on and off the flapper switching solenoid 17 in the bin tray 10 and rotating the flapper 27.

As will be described later, the flapper 27 is controlled to rotate in the direction of the broken arrow when the 3-bin tray 10 is not mounted. Therefore, the recorded paper is correctly and reliably discharged to the tray 26 of the printer 3,
Even though the 3-bin tray 10 is not installed,
It is possible to prevent an erroneous operation in which the paper is discharged toward the mounting portion of the 3-bin tray 10 and an unnecessary operation.

The case where the 3-bin tray 10 is mounted will be described. As for the recorded sheet, when the flapper switching solenoid 17 is turned off and the rod-shaped electromagnetic moving portion moves in the direction indicated by the broken line, the flapper 27 rotates clockwise. The paper is ejected to the tray 26 by rotating to. When the number of recorded sheets is accumulated in the tray 26 and the number of sheets exceeds a predetermined number, the actuator 28 operates and the output signal level from the overload sensor 29 including a photo interrupter changes,
Overload can be detected. In addition, the recorded paper is
When the flapper switching solenoid 17 is turned on and the electromagnetic moving unit moves in the direction indicated by the solid line, the flapper 27 rotates counterclockwise and is delivered to the 3-bin tray 10.

The 3-bin tray 10 includes two trays 30,
It has a shift tray (movable shelf) unit 32 provided with 31. The shift tray unit 32 corresponds to the movable member described above. Printer 3 to 3 bin tray 10
The recorded sheet sent to the tray is conveyed in a 3-bin tray by a recorded sheet conveying mechanism driven by a conveying motor 15 including a pulse motor, and one of these trays 3
The paper is discharged to 0 or 31.

The carry motor 15 is a carry motor drive circuit 1 according to a control signal from the printer central control circuit 4.
It is rotationally driven by a drive signal D1 from 1 (see FIG. 1). Further, the flapper switching solenoid 18 is turned on / off by the drive signal D4 (see FIG. 1) from the solenoid drive circuit 14 in response to the control signal from the printer central control circuit 4 to rotate the flapper 33, whereby the trays 30, 31 are rotated. Select which tray to discharge the paper. Therefore, the recorded paper is stored in the three trays 26, 3
The sheets are selectively sorted into 0 or 31 and discharged.

When the flapper switching solenoid 18 is turned off and the electromagnetic moving section moves in the direction indicated by the broken line, the recorded sheet sent to the 3-bin tray 10 is rotated downward by rotating the flapper 33 clockwise. The paper is discharged to the tray 30. Paper ejection sensor 2 composed of photo interrupter
1 detects that the recorded paper is discharged to the tray 30. When the number of recorded sheets is accumulated in the tray 30 and the number of sheets is equal to or larger than a predetermined number, the actuator 34 is activated to change the output signal level from the overload sensor 23 including a photo interrupter, thereby detecting the overload on the tray 30. can do.

When the flapper switching solenoid 18 is turned on and the electromagnetic moving section moves in the direction shown by the solid line, the flapper 33 rotates counterclockwise to discharge the recorded sheet to the upper tray 31. To be done. The paper discharge sensor 22 composed of a photo interrupter detects that recorded paper is discharged to the tray 31. When the number of recorded sheets is accumulated in the tray 31 and the number of sheets is equal to or larger than a predetermined number, the actuator 35 is operated and the output signal level from the overload sensor 24 including a photo interrupter is changed to detect the overload on the tray 31. can do.

The opening / closing sensor 25 is composed of a micro switch, and when the recorded paper causes a paper jam in the transport path, the door 36 is opened to remove the jam, and the door 36 is opened. Detect.

A tray shift motor 16 composed of a DC motor is disposed above the 3-bin tray 10. The tray shift motor 16 corresponds to the drive source described above, and is driven by a drive signal D2 (see FIG. 1) from the tray shift motor drive circuit 12 in response to a control signal from the printer central control circuit 4, and in the y direction in the drawing. Rotate clockwise when viewed from. Then, each time the tray shift motor 16 makes one rotation, the transmission tray drive mechanism (not shown) linearly displaces the shift tray unit 32 in the Z direction to reciprocate once. The transmission drive mechanism, the tray shift motor drive circuit 12, and the tray shift motor 16
And constitute the displacement means described above.

A tray position detecting plate 37, which is a disk-shaped member corresponding to a rotating body, is attached to the rotation shaft of the tray shift motor 16.
Is mounted on the shaft. The tray position detection plate 37 rotates in conjunction with the tray shift motor 16. A tray position sensor 20 including a photo interrupter is arranged adjacent to the tray position detection plate 37 in the surface direction. The tray position sensor 20 and the tray position detecting plate 37 themselves essentially form a position detecting means provided for detecting the displacement of the shift tray unit 32.

In the above structure, the shift tray unit 32 is used as the movable member, and the structure including the tray position sensor 20 and the tray position detecting plate 37 is used as the position detecting means. However, for example, a movable member such as the flapper switching solenoids 17 and 18 or the flapper 33 may be used and other position detecting means for detecting the operating position of these may be provided.

FIGS. 3A to 3D are views from the direction y in FIG. 2, and are for explaining the detection operation of the tray position sensor 20 while the tray shift motor 16 makes one rotation. It is a figure.

As shown in FIGS. 3A to 3D, the tray position detecting plate 37 axially attached to the rotary shaft 16a of the tray shift motor 16 has a first radius portion r1 and a second radius portion. It has a disk shape having r2. The radius of the first radius portion r1 is smaller than the radius of the second radius portion r2. That is, the radius of the second radius portion r2 is larger than the radius of the first radius portion r1. The radius of each radius is such that the first radius r1 does not pass through the gap of the tray position sensor 20 when the tray position detection plate 37 makes one rotation in conjunction with the tray shift motor 16, and the second radius is the second radius. The radius of the portion r2 passes through the gap of the tray position sensor 20.
The circumferential angles of the first radius portion r1 and the second radius portion r2 are each approximately 180 °.

In the state shown in FIG. 3A, the shift tray unit 32 is located at the substantially central position in the Z-axis direction in FIG. 2, and the first radius portion r1 does not enter the gap portion of the tray position sensor 20. The tray position detection signal TP from the tray position sensor 20 is at high level. When the tray shift motor 16 is rotationally driven to displace the shift tray unit 32, the tray position detection plate 37
2 rotates in the clockwise direction (CW) together with the tray shift motor 16 as described above, and the shift tray unit 32 moves to the position shown in FIG.
Displace in the middle-Z direction. Shift tray unit 32-
When reaching the limit position in the Z direction, the front end portion of the second radius portion r2 enters the gap portion of the tray position sensor 20 as shown in FIG.

Here, FIG. 4 shows Z in FIG. 3B at this time.
The arrow figure from the direction is shown. In FIG. 4, the tray position detecting plate 37 is composed of a photo interrupter as described above. The light emitting diode DL, which is supplied with the power supply voltage Vcc via the resistor R1, corresponds to the above-mentioned light source and generates the visible light L. In addition, the power supply voltage V via the resistor R2
The phototransistor QP supplied with cc outputs the tray position detection signal TP which becomes high level when receiving the visible light L and becomes low level when not receiving the visible light L. The phototransistor QP corresponds to the above-mentioned light detecting means.

In the state shown in FIG. 3B, since the front end of the second radius portion r2 has entered the gap portion 20a of the tray position sensor 20, the visible light L from the light emitting diode DL enters the phototransistor QP. Shielded against. Therefore, the tray position detection signal TP from the tray position sensor 20 is inverted from the high level to the low level.

When the tray shift motor 16 continues to rotate in the clockwise direction (CW), the shift tray unit 32 reverses and starts to be displaced in the + Z direction in FIG. When the shift tray unit 32 inverts from the limit position in the −Z direction and continues to be displaced, the shift tray unit 32 eventually returns to the original center position, and at this time, the tray position detection plate 37 is in the state shown in FIG. 3 (C). Become. Therefore, during this period, the tray position detection signal TP from the tray position sensor 20 maintains a low level.

When the tray shift motor 16 continues to rotate in the clockwise direction (CW), the shift tray unit 32 eventually reaches the limit position in the + Z direction in FIG.
Then, as shown in FIG. 3D, the rear end of the second radius portion r2 is about to come out of the gap of the tray position sensor 20, and the visible light L from the light emitting diode DL is reached.
Becomes incident on the phototransistor QP,
The tray position detection signal TP from the tray position sensor 20 is inverted from low level to high level.

When the tray shift motor 16 continues to rotate in the clockwise direction (CW), the shift tray unit 32 reverses and begins to be displaced again in the -Z direction in FIG. When the shift tray unit 32 is reversed from the limit position in the + Z direction and continues to be displaced, the shift tray unit 32
After a short time, it returns to the original center position, and at this time, the tray position detection plate 37 becomes the state shown in FIG. 3 (A). Therefore, during this period, the tray position detection signal TP from the tray position sensor 20 maintains a high level.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart of the tray position detection signal TP from the tray position sensor 20 thus obtained. At time ta, ta ', time tb, time tc, and time td in FIG.
The tray position detecting plate 37 is in the state shown in FIGS. 3 (A), 3 (B), 3 (C), and (D), respectively.

That is, the tray position detection signal TP is 2 when the tray position detection plate 37 makes one rotation, that is, the tray shift unit 32 makes one reciprocation in the Z-axis direction in FIG.
It is a binary signal that is inverted twice.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the transmission system for the tray position detection signal TP.

The tray position detection signal TP output from the tray position detection plate 37 is supplied to the terminal 4 on the side of the 3-bin tray 10.
It is input to an interface composed of a resistor R pulled up to the power supply voltage Vcc via a cable 41 connecting the 0, 3 bin tray 10 and the printer 3 and a terminal 42 on the printer 3 side. Then, the lower end of the resistor R is input to the input port 43 of the printer central control circuit 4. This input port corresponds to the above-mentioned terminal.

Since the resistor R is pulled up to the power supply voltage Vcc, the level of the input port 43 becomes a high level fixed value when nothing is connected or attached to the printer 3. Since this fixed value is determined by the power supply voltage Vcc, it can be known in advance. On the other hand, when the 3-bin tray 10 is attached to the printer 3, the level of the input port 43 changes according to the logical level of the incoming tray position detection signal TP.

FIG. 7 shows the printer central control circuit 4 using the printer 10 and the 3-bin tray 10 having the above-described configurations.
6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed to detect mounting of the 3-bin tray 10 by a program stored in a ROM or the like therein or a program supplied from the outside by a storage medium.

In FIG. 7, when the mounting detection process of the 3-bin tray 10 is started (START), first, step S
The level 2 determination process is performed to determine whether the level of the input port 43 is a fixed value when the 3-bin tray 10 is not attached. When it is determined in step S2 that the level of the input port 43 is not the fixed value when the 3-bin tray 10 is not mounted (No), the level of the input port 43 is not the high level fixed value,
The level is in accordance with the tray position detection signal TP which is a binary signal.

That is, as described with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, is the tray position detection signal TP indicating that the shift tray unit 32 is being displaced (when the logic level of the tray position detection signal TP is changing)? , It is stopped during the displacement from the limit position in the −Z direction to the limit position in the + Z direction in FIG. 2 (when the tray position detection signal TP maintains a low level instead of a fixed high level value). , The 3-bin tray 10 is securely attached to the printer 4.

Therefore, the process of the mounting determination process of step S4 is executed to determine that the 3-bin tray 10 is mounted. When it is determined that the 3-bin tray 10 is mounted, the process is ended (END) and the process returns to the main routine.

Thus, the level of the input port 43 is 3
It is determined whether the bin tray 10 is a fixed value when not attached (step S2), and when it is not the fixed value, it is immediately determined that the 3-bin tray 10 is attached (step S2).
By 4), the mounting of the 3-bin tray 10 can be quickly detected. In this case, the shift tray unit 32 is not displaced unnecessarily, so that it is possible to prevent unnecessary power consumption and prevent noise generation.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2 that the level of the input port 43 is a previously known fixed value when the 3-bin tray 10 is not mounted (Yes), the level of the input port 43 is high. Maintained at the level. At this time, when the high level is maintained because the 3-bin tray 10 is not actually attached,
Although the 3-bin tray 10 is mounted, it remains at a high level because the shifted tray unit 32 is stopped while being displaced from the + Z direction limit position in FIG. 2 to the −Z direction limit position. There are cases. Therefore, the processing from step S6 is executed to determine which case.

In the control signal sending process of step S6, the tray shift motor rotation control signal CR (see FIG. 1) supplied to the tray shift motor drive circuit 12 is turned on and sent. Even if the tray shift motor rotation control signal CR is turned on, if the 3-bin tray 10 is not mounted, the level of the input port 43 does not change and remains at the high level.

On the other hand, when the 3-bin tray 10 is installed, the tray position detection signal TP is supplied to the input port 43, and when the tray shift motor rotation control signal CR turns on, the tray shift motor drive circuit 12 causes the tray shift motor drive circuit 12 to shift the tray shift. A tray shift motor drive signal D2 is supplied to the motor 16. As a result, the tray shift motor 16 is rotationally driven and the shift tray unit 32 starts to be displaced. When the shift tray unit 32 is displaced, the logic level of the tray position detection signal TP changes as shown in FIG.

Therefore, step S6 is followed by step S
8 is executed to determine whether the level of the input port 43 has changed within a predetermined time Th after the tray shift motor rotation control signal CR is turned on. Here, the time Th is the time required for the tray position detection plate 37 to rotate at least ½ after the tray shift motor 16 starts rotating. This is the tray position detection plate 3
Since the first radius portion r1 and the second radius portion r2 of 7 have a substantially equal circumferential angle of 180 °, the tray position detection signal TP is provided while the tray position detection plate 37 rotates at least 1/2.
This is because the logical level of will definitely change.

When it is determined in step S8 that the level of the input port 43 has changed within the predetermined time Th (Yes), the shift tray unit 32 is operated as described above.
Is due to actual displacement, and the 3-bin tray 10 is securely attached to the printer 4. Therefore, step S4
The mounting determination process is executed to determine that the 3-bin tray 10 is mounted. When it is determined that the 3-bin tray 10 is mounted, the process is ended (END) and the process returns to the main routine.

On the other hand, in step S8, the predetermined time T
When it is determined that the level of the input port 43 does not change within h (No), the shift tray unit 32 described above is used.
No displacement has been made. Therefore, at this time, since the 3-bin tray 10 is not actually mounted, the processing of the subsequent step S10 is executed and it is determined that the 3-bin tray 10 is not present.

If the 3-bin tray 10 is not provided, it is necessary to correctly discharge the recorded paper from the paper discharge port built in the printer 3 to the tray 26. Therefore, in the discharge control process of step S12, the discharge port built in the printer 3 is designated. As a result, in FIG. 2, the flapper 27 is controlled to rotate in the direction of the broken arrow. Therefore, the recorded sheet is correctly and surely ejected to the tray 26 of the printer 3, and is ejected toward the mounting portion of the 3-bin tray 10 even though the 3-bin tray 10 is not mounted. Useless operation can be prevented.

When the built-in paper discharge port is designated, the processing of the subsequent step S14 is executed, and the printer central control circuit 4 sends the status without the 3-bin tray 10 to the central control circuit 2 for controlling the operation of the entire facsimile 1. , Ends the processing (END) and returns to the main routine. By sending the status without 3-bin tray 10 to the central control circuit 2, the tray position detection signal TP is effectively utilized,
The operation of the facsimile machine 1 including the printer 3 can be surely performed.

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in order to transmit the mounting detection circuit (86) used conventionally and the detection signal from this detection circuit to the printer central control circuit in the printer. Whether or not the 3-bin tray 10 is mounted can be detected by determining the level of the input port 43 to which the tray position detection signal TP is to be supplied, without specially providing the electric component of. Therefore, a discharge device device detection method for a recording device in which a paper discharge device such as a sorter or a multi-tray device is detachably attached, and the recording device and the recording device, which facilitate power saving, downsizing, and cost reduction, are provided. It is possible to provide a paper discharge device that is detachable from the device.

It should be noted that the sheet discharge device mounting detection method of the recording device, the recording device, and the sheet discharge device of the present invention have a recording device for recording an image on a sheet-shaped recording medium, and the sheet discharge device is detachable. As a matter of course, the present invention can be applied not only to a facsimile but also to a copying machine, for example.

The method of the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Needless to say, the method of the present invention can also be applied to a case where the method is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, the storage medium storing the program represented by the software for achieving the method of the present invention is read by the system or apparatus, and the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the method of the present invention. become.

[0075]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to detect the mounting of the sheet discharging device to the recording device without newly adding a special circuit or electric component for detecting the mounting to the sheet discharging device. Since this is done, there is an effect that power saving, downsizing, and cost reduction can be easily performed.

That is, according to the present invention, the sheet discharging device having the movable member is caused to perform a predetermined operation based on the control signal sent from the recording device, and is inputted when the displacement detecting means of the movable member is detected. It is determined whether the coming position detection signal is input to the control means of the recording device within a predetermined time after the control signal is sent, and it is determined whether the recording device is attached based on this determination result. Therefore, if the paper discharge device is configured to have a movable member and its position detection means,
It is possible to detect the mounting of the paper discharge device without newly adding a special circuit or electric component.

Further, in the present invention, since the binary signal whose logical level changes according to the position of the movable member is applied as the position detection signal from the position detection means which should come into the control means, the recording device outputs It is possible to reliably determine, based on the position detection signal, whether or not the paper discharge device has performed the predetermined operation based on the sent control signal.

Further, according to the present invention, when it is determined that the signal which should come into the control means is not input within the predetermined time,
Since it determines that the paper ejection device is not installed and controls the paper ejection to the paper ejection port built into the recording device, the recording paper is loaded even if the paper ejection device is not installed. It is possible to prevent an erroneous operation in which the paper is discharged in the direction of the set and a wasteful operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a recording apparatus and a paper discharge apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a mechanical configuration of a recording device and a paper discharge device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the detection operation of the tray position sensor 20 during one rotation of the tray shift motor 16.

FIG. 4 is a view from the Z direction in FIG. 3 (B).

5 is a timing chart of the tray position detection signal TP from the tray position sensor 20. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a transmission system for a tray position detection signal TP.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed to detect mounting of the 3-bin tray 10 according to the first embodiment of the recording apparatus and the sheet discharging apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration in which a paper discharge device is attached to a conventional recording device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Facsimile 2 Central control circuit 3,81 Printer 4,87 Printer central control circuit 10,83 3 Bin tray 12 Tray shift motor drive circuit 16 Tray shift motor 20 Tray position sensor 32 Shift tray unit 37 Tray position detection plate 43,88 Input port CR tray shift motor rotation control signal D2 tray shift motor drive signal DL light emitting diode QP phototransistor r1 first radius part r2 second radius part S2, S4, S6, S8, S10, S12, S14 step TP tray position detection signal

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A terminal for receiving a predetermined signal from the paper ejection device when the paper ejection device is mounted in a paper ejection device mounting detection method for a recording device in which the paper ejection device is detachably attached. And a mounting judgment process for judging mounting of the paper discharging device based on the judgment result of the level judging process. 2. A method of detecting the mounting of a paper discharge device in a recording device in which the paper discharge device is detachably attached, the control signal sending step of sending a control signal for causing the paper discharge device to perform a predetermined operation. And a signal input determination step of determining whether a signal that should come in is input within a predetermined time when the paper discharge device performs the predetermined operation based on the control signal, and a signal input determination step of And a mounting determination process of determining mounting of the sheet discharging device based on a determination result. 3. A method for detecting the mounting of a paper discharge device in a recording device in which the paper discharge device is detachably mounted, wherein a predetermined signal is input from the paper discharge device when the paper discharge device is mounted. A level determination process for determining the level of a terminal to be operated, a control signal transmission process for transmitting a control signal for causing the paper discharge device to perform a predetermined operation based on the determination result of the level determination process, and the paper discharge device. A signal input determination step of determining whether the predetermined signal that should come when the predetermined operation is performed based on the control signal is input within a predetermined time, and a determination result of the signal input determination step or And a mounting determination process for determining mounting of the discharging device based on the determination result of the level determination process. 4. The level determination process according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether the level of the terminal is a fixed value when the paper discharge device is not attached to the recording device. A method for detecting attachment of a paper discharge device of the recording apparatus described in claim 1. 5. In the signal input determination process, when it is determined that the incoming signal is not input within the predetermined time, it is determined that the paper discharge device is not mounted, and a built-in paper discharge port. 4. The method for detecting the mounting of a paper discharge device of a recording apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a paper discharge control process of performing paper discharge control to the sheet. 6. The paper discharge device has a movable member, the drive source of the movable member is drive-controlled by the control signal, and the predetermined signal is generated by detecting a displacement operation of the movable member. 2 to 4 characterized in that
5. The method for detecting the attachment of a paper discharge device of a recording device according to any one of 1. 7. The movable member comprises a movable shelf, and the predetermined signal detects whether light from the light source is detected by the light detection means according to the shape of a rotating body that rotates with the drive source,
7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the generation is performed by changing the logic level within the predetermined time depending on whether or not to detect. 8. A movable member, displacement means for displacing the movable member according to a control signal, and position detection means for detecting displacement of the movable member and outputting a position detection signal of the movable member. A recording device in which the paper discharge device is detachably attached has a terminal through which the position detection signal comes in from the paper discharge device when the paper discharge device is attached to the recording device. A recording apparatus comprising: a level determination unit for determining a level; and a mounting determination unit for determining mounting of the paper discharge device based on a determination result by the level determination unit. 9. A movable member, displacement means for displacing the movable member in response to a control signal, and position detection means for detecting displacement of the movable member and outputting a position detection signal of the movable member. In a recording device in which a paper discharge device is detachably configured, a control signal sending means for sending the control signal for causing the paper discharge device to perform a predetermined operation, and the paper discharge device based on the control signal. A signal input judging means for judging whether or not the position detection signal is inputted within a predetermined time, the terminal having a terminal to which the position detection signal should be inputted when the predetermined operation is carried out; A recording apparatus, comprising: mounting determination means for determining mounting of the paper discharge device based on a determination result by the determination means. 10. A movable member, displacement means for displacing the movable member in response to a control signal, and position detection means for detecting displacement of the movable member and outputting a position detection signal for the movable member. A recording device in which the paper discharge device is detachably attached, has a terminal to which the position detection signal comes from the paper discharge device when the paper discharge device is mounted, and determines the level of the terminal Level determination means, control signal transmission means for transmitting the control signal for causing the paper discharge device to perform a predetermined operation based on the determination result by the level determination means, and the paper discharge device based on the control signal Signal input determination means for determining whether or not the position detection signal is input within a predetermined time, the terminal having the terminal to which the position detection signal should be input when the predetermined operation is performed. For signal input judgment means That the determination result or the recording apparatus characterized by comprising a mounting determining means for determining mounting of said sheet discharging device based on a determination result of the level decision means. 11. The level determination means determines whether the level of the terminal is a fixed value when the paper discharge device is not mounted.
The recording device according to 1. 12. When the signal input determination means determines that the incoming signal is not input within the predetermined time, it is determined that the paper discharge device is not mounted and a built-in paper discharge port. 11. The recording apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a sheet discharge control unit that controls sheet discharge to the sheet. 13. The position detection signal is a binary signal whose logical level changes within the predetermined time according to the position of the movable member of the paper discharge device. Recording device. 14. A paper discharge device having a movable member, which is detachably attached to a recording device having a recording device for recording an image on a recording paper and a control device for controlling the operation of the device based on a signal from the outside. The apparatus comprises a displacement means for displacing the movable member according to a control signal from the outside, and a position detection means for detecting displacement of the movable member and outputting a position detection signal according to the position of the movable member. Then, the sheet discharge device is configured to send the position detection signal to the control means within a predetermined time after the control signal is supplied when the recording device is mounted on the recording device. 15. The paper discharge device according to claim 14, wherein the movable member is a movable shelf to which the recording paper sent from the recording device is discharged. 16. The position detecting means temporarily blocks the light from the light source by a part of the rotating body in response to the rotation of the rotating body which is interlocked with the drive source of the displacing means. 16. The paper discharge device according to claim 14, further comprising a light detection unit that generates the position detection signal whose logical level changes within a predetermined time. 17. The rotating body is made of a disk-shaped member having portions with different radii, the light from the light source is shielded from the light detecting means by a portion with a large radius, and the portion by a portion with a small radius is described above. The paper ejection device according to claim 16, wherein the paper ejection device is configured to allow light from a light source to enter the light detection unit.